Sunday, May 8, 2011

Find: Five Best Apps to Send Group Text Messages on the Cheap

When you need to get the same message out to a lot of people immediately, you could send them an email, but that's hardly real-time communication. At these times, group texting apps are excellent tools for the job. Here's a look at five of the most popular group messaging apps or services that communicate with several people instantly.
On Thursday, we asked you which apps or services you turned to for group texting: those times when you have to change a meeting place at the last minute or you want to make a big announcement to all of your friends—and keep the real-time communication flowing between everyone without incurring massive texting fees. You weighed in, we collected the votes, and now we're back to review what you suggested.

Available for the iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, and even non-smartphones, GroupMe is the Swiss Army knife of group texting and communication apps. Download the app, sign up for an account, and enjoy the ability to send texts to and start conference calls with multiple people in your contacts, or even from Twitter and Facebook. Plus, you can add your location or photos to any message you send. Plus, it's free.

Recently acquired by Facebook, Beluga offers free, dead simple group text messages to iPhone and Android users. Create your group from people you know, keep them completely private, and share your location and photos with them or just send them all a note to coordinate them as a group. Plus, you can send messages to your group from the Web if you don't feel like using your phone.